Implantation tools for interspinous process spacing device

Abstract

Various embodiments described herein provide interspinous process spacing devices and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, surgical instrument system for implanting an interspinous process spacing device includes a first arm having a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a first engagement element configured for releasably engaging a first attachment side of an interspinous process spacing device. The system also includes a second arm having a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a second engagement element configured for releasably engaging a second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. The first arm and the second arm are removably attachable to one another via attachment elements and are configured for aligning a spacer of the first attachment side and a spacer opening of the second attachment side.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical instrument for implanting an interspinous process spacing device comprising a first attachment side having a spacer and a second attachment side having a spacer opening configured to receive the spacer, the surgical instrument comprising:
 a first arm comprising a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first arm comprises a first engagement projection configured for releasably engaging the first attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device; and 
 a second arm comprising a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the second arm comprises a mount and a second engagement projection movably attached to the mount and configured for releasably engaging the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device; 
 wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally attached to one another and are configured for advancing the first attachment side and the second attachment side toward one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement projection is rotatably attached to the mount. 
     
     
       3. The surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the second engagement projection is configured for allowing the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device to rotate relative to the mount when the second engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       4. The surgical instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the second engagement projection is configured for allowing the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device to rotate at least 5 degrees about an axis of rotation when the second engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       5. The surgical instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the second engagement projection is configured for allowing the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device to rotate at least 10 degrees about an axis of rotation when the second engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       6. The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement projection is configured for releasably engaging an instrument receptacle of the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       7. The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement projection comprises a threaded screw. 
     
     
       8. The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the interspinous process spacing device further comprises a set screw for securing the second attachment side relative to the first attachment side, and wherein a portion of the distal end of the second arm is cannulated to provide access to the set screw when the second engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       9. The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the second engagement projection is cannulated to provide access to the set screw when the second engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       10. The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the mount is cannulated to provide access to the set screw when the second engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       11. A surgical instrument for implanting an interspinous process spacing device comprising a first attachment side having a spacer and a second attachment side having a spacer opening configured to receive the spacer, the surgical instrument comprising:
 a first arm comprising a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein a portion of the distal end of the first arm is configured for releasably engaging the first attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device; and 
 a second arm comprising a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein a portion of the distal end of the second arm is configured for releasably engaging the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device, and wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the second arm is movable relative to the elongated central portion of the second arm; 
 wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally attached to one another and are configured for advancing the first attachment side and the second attachment side toward one another. 
 
     
     
       12. The surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the at least a portion of the distal end of the second arm is rotatable relative to the elongated central portion of the second arm. 
     
     
       13. The surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the distal portion of the second arm comprises an engagement projection configured for releasably engaging the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device, and wherein the engagement projection is movable relative to the elongated central portion of the second arm. 
     
     
       14. The surgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement projection is rotatable relative to the elongated central portion of the second arm. 
     
     
       15. The surgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement projection is configured for allowing the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device to rotate relative to the elongated central portion of the second arm when the engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       16. The surgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the distal portion of the second arm further comprises a mount, and wherein the engagement projection is movably attached to the mount. 
     
     
       17. The surgical instrument of  claim 16 , wherein the engagement projection is rotatably attached to the mount. 
     
     
       18. The surgical instrument of  claim 16 , wherein the mount is rigidly attached to the elongated central portion of the second arm. 
     
     
       19. The surgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the interspinous process spacing device further comprises a set screw for securing the second attachment side relative to the first attachment side, and wherein a portion of the distal end of the second arm is cannulated to provide access to the set screw when the engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       20. The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of the second engagement projection is cannulated to provide access to the set screw when the second engagement projection engages the second attachment side of the interspinous process spacing device. 
     
     
       21. A surgical instrument for selecting an interspinous process spacing device for implantation between a first spinous process of a first vertebra and a second spinous process of a second vertebra, the surgical instrument comprising:
 a first arm comprising a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first arm comprises a first spinous process stop element having an elongated shape extending transverse to the elongated central portion of the first arm and configured for engaging the first spinous process; and 
 a second arm comprising a proximal end, an elongated central portion, and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the second arm comprises a second spinous process stop element having an elongated shape extending transverse to the elongated central portion of the second arm and configured for engaging the second spinous process; 
 wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally attached to one another about an axis and configured for moving the first spinous process stop element into engagement with the first spinous process and the second spinous process stop element into engagement with the second spinous process to measure a space between the first spinous process and the second spinous process. 
 
     
     
       22. The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the first spinous process stop element and the second spinous process stop element each extend substantially parallel to the axis. 
     
     
       23. The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the distal end of the first arm is rigidly attached to the elongated central portion of the first arm, and wherein the distal end of the second arm is rigidly attached to the elongated central portion of the second arm. 
     
     
       24. The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , further comprising a measuring bar pivotally attached to the proximal end of one of the first arm and the second arm and configured for selectively engaging the proximal end of the other of the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
       25. The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the measuring bar comprises a plurality of teeth configured for selectively engaging the proximal end of the other of the first arm and the second arm and maintaining a pivoted position of the first arm relative to the second arm. 
     
     
       26. The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the measuring bar comprises one or more indicators of predetermined length corresponding to the space between the first spinous process and the second spinous process when the first spinous process stop element engages the first spinous process and the second spinous process stop element engages the second spinous process. 
     
     
       27. The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated central portion of the first arm and the elongated central portion of the second arm are pivotally attached to one another about the axis. 
     
     
       28. The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally attached to one another about the axis such that drawing the proximal end of the first arm and the proximal end of the second arm toward one another causes the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm to move away from one another. 
     
     
       29. The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the distal end of the first arm further comprises a first wing template extending perpendicular to the first spinous process stop element, and wherein the distal end of the second arm further comprises a second wing template extending perpendicular to the second spinous process stop element. 
     
     
       30. The surgical instrument of  claim 29 , wherein the first wing template is configured for overlapping the first spinous process when the first spinous process stop element engages the first spinous process, and wherein the second wing template is configured for overlapping the second spinous process when the second spinous process stop element engages the second spinous process.